ZOOFUTURES

CONSERVATION

ADOPT AN ANIMAL

ZOOKEEPERS’ CIRCLE

UPCOMING EVENTS ZtoU ZtoU brings you news about issues important to the Cleveland Zoological Society and people, like you, who support us.

Cleveland Zoological Society3900 Wildlife WayCleveland, Ohio 44109-3132

ClevelandZooSociety.org

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has a wealth of gifted zoo keepers on staff. Whether they are working with amphibians, mammals or any of the other animals that reside at 3900 Wildlife Way, these keepers share a passion and dedication for their work that few other professions can

claim. Along with a commitment to improving professional animal care, animal welfare and conservation, today’s zoo keepers handle a host of complex tasks. From advancing techniques in animal husbandry and research to population man-agement and education, keepers face ever-growing demands and expectations.

No stranger to the unique opportunities and challenges facing keepers is the Zoo’s own Shane Good. Good began his professional career nearly two decades ago, but his love for animals and his affinity for zoo work began long before that. Good’s father was a keeper at the Zoo in the 1960’s and early 1970’s and five-year-old Shane would accompany his father to work on the weekends, helping to feed the birds on the Zoo’s Waterfowl Lake. Today he spends most of his time at the Zoo work-ing with the animals in Australian Adventure. Good is also President of the Amer-ican Association of Zoo Keepers and the International Congress of Zookeepers. As president of the AAZK and ICZ, Good has a great appreciation for the challenges that keepers face both nationally and internationally. Continued on pages 4-5.

ZtoU SPRING 2010 02 WHAT’S NEW AT THE ZOO? Inside Information

03 ADOPT A CHEETAH! Fast n’ Furry!

04 FROM THE FIELD Good is Great

07 IN THE CIRCLE Behind-the-Scenes Tours and SO much more!

08 WHAT’S THE BUZZ? Dates to Remember

2 ZtoU Spring 2010

SWAMP LIFEWhen you think of monkeys, water is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, but water is a big attraction for the Zoo’s Allen’s swamp monkeys. Native to west central Africa, these primates live in groups of up to 40 individuals, are at home both in trees and in the water, and, with their webbed toes and strong build, are good swimmers. Wild populations are threatened by hunting and habitat loss. The Zoo welcomed a new baby Allen’s swamp monkey last August. The young-ster can be found enjoying the water at the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building.

CONTRIBUTIONS PROVIDE FOR LOCAL YOUTHThe Cleveland Zoological Society and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo are commit-ted to the concept that al l children,

regardless of circumstance, deserve the best conservation education and natural world experiences the Zoo has to offer. Each year, the imaginations of Northeast Ohio school children are sparked by the Zoo’s science enrichment programs. Among them are 25,000 of Cuyahoga County’s most impoverished children, whose participation is made possible by Zoo Society donors to our Education Access Fund. The centerpiece of Zoo con-servation education, Education Access removes barriers to learning and provides engaging, content-rich programming. In October, Cleveland Schools CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders visited the Zoo and was very impressed by the quality and breadth of programming for schools. Dr. Sanders met with Curator of Conserva-tion Education Vicki Searles, Education Specialist Christine Korhnak and Zoo

Society Executive Director Liz Fowler to gain familiarity with our educational programs and explore curriculum devel-opment ideas for African Elephant Crossing, and then observed a lively class at The RainForest.

ZOOTUBECan’t make it to the Zoo today? Visit us on the web for all the latest news with the Roar Report, ZooTube and our webcams. From the antics of our your red panda cubs to the latest webcam views of the African Elephant Crossing construction site, your can keep up with all the news and goings on even when you can’t enjoy the Zoo in person. Our animal videos are also great to share with friends and fam-ily around the country.

What’s New at the Zoo?INSIDE INFORMATION

MARY MCMILLANDirector of Finance & OperationsCleveland Zoological Society

TOM O’KONOWITZMarketing & Public Relations SpecialistCleveland Metroparks Zoo

Don’t forget—the Zoo is open year-round and we always have something cool going on. Spring is a wonderful time to come visit your Zoo. The days are fresh and sunny and the animals are ready to get out and enjoy the warm weather—just like you.

ZtoU Spring 2010 3

Celebrate the Zoo’s spotted speedsters by adopting a cheetah today! The fastest sprinters in the animal king-dom, cheetahs can run at the equivalent of 60 mph in short bursts of up to 200-300 yards. By becoming a ZooParent you will not only help our cheetah but all the 3,000 animals that call our Zoo “home.”

ADOPT A CHEETAH FOR jUST $75, AND YOUR gIFT PACKAgE WILL INCLUDE: • Anofficial“ZooParent”collectible key chain• Acollectibleplushtoy• Personalizedadoptioncertificate• Acolorphotoandfunfactsheet about cheetah• Afullyearofaward-winning membership publications • AninvitationtoZooFriends’Night 2010, a VIP family summer event (mailed separately)• Namerecognitionon ClevelandZooSociety.org

Upgrade your single adoption to $100, and the ZooParent will receive all of the above AND a terrific T-shirt or Zoo Society tote bag and recognition on Zoo grounds.

Race in at the $250 adoption level and you’ll enjoy all the benefits above as well as an invitation for you and a guest (16 years or older) to go on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the Zoo.

Animal adoptions are a great gift for any holiday, anniversary, birthday, or for that special someone that has everything... but a cheetah. Your adoption kit includes some-thing for all seasons – the custom gift pack-age NOW, plus a year-round subscription to Z magazine, plus a chance to visit your animal on ZooFriends’ Night, 2010.

Adopt a cheetah…it’s a spot-on idea!

Adopt a Cheetah!AND MAKE IT SPEEDY!

4 ZtoU Spring 2010

The International Congress of Zookeeping (ICZ) works to build a worldwide network among zoo keepers and other professionals in the field of wildlife care and con-servation. This exchange of experience and knowledge will improve the professionalism of zoo keepers for the benefit of the animals under their care and promote awareness and actions that will contribute to the pres-ervation of wildlife everywhere. —ICZ.org

SHANE gOODKeeper

BRENDAN REYNOLDSDevelopmentAssociate

From the FieldGOOD IS GREAT

Clockwise at left: Shane Good at 5 with his father, feeding Colobus moneys, and today

Continued from page 1

Serving as a professional organization for zoo keepers, AAZK is a valuable resource for animal care workers. AAZK is dedicated to advancing animal care, promoting public awareness, enhancing professional development and contribut-ing to local and global conservation through fund raising and stewardship. Its goal is to inspire and motivate through its members’ roles as animal caregivers, educators and conservationists. Through workshops, conferences, newsletters, and Internet forums, AAZK helps animal care staff stay current in husbandry, training, nutrition, and conservation. Well-edu-cated keepers using modern techniques

means the animals in their care benefit tremendously; most keepers today have at least an Associate’s degree but more likely a four-year Bachelor’s degree in biology, zoology or animal science.

Good knew early on that his calling was to animal care. Following his passion, Good studied fish and wildlife manage-ment at Hocking College before receiv-ing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Baldwin-Wallace College. He is pursu-ing his M.S. in Biology at Cleveland State University. In Good’s estimation, the Zoo is uniquely positioned to accept the challenges presented to the modern zoo keeper. “Compared to other zoos,” explains Good, “we have very little

turnover in animal care. Our animal care staff has a wealth of knowledge and expe-rience. This is one of the reasons that the Zoo is recognized as an industry leader.”

Good also understands that it is not enough to rely on the knowledge and experience of individual keepers. He realizes a need for more keepers to take an active leadership role in their profes-sion and to share their experience to establish best practices for animal care.

“Ensuring that our animals receive the best care possible means we have keepers who not only understand the importance of enrichment and nutrition but are also observant of the behavior of the animals they are working with” says Good. To

ZtoU Spring 2010 5

ensure all keepers at the Zoo understand best practices in animal care, they partic-ipate in continuing education and train-ing throughout their employment.

Another challenge that exists for keepers is meeting the increasing demand for face-to-face contact with Zoo visitors. Animal care professionals have a unique opportunity to share their personal expe-riences with the animals for which they care. They can shed light on the animals’

“personalities” and talk about the animals day-to-day lives. This personal connec-tion to the animals is important for Zoo

visitors to understand. Keepers can also discuss the complex scientific issues that affect their work. As the mission of zoos change and the job description of keep-ers develop even further, the keeper’s voice is more and more important in tell-ing the story of zoos and the role those zoos are playing in international conser-vation efforts.

There is no doubt that keepers face chal-lenges on a daily basis. As the skill sets required become increasingly diversified these challenges will only grow. The Zoo is lucky to have a passionate, dedicated

animal care staff that goes above and beyond to ensure the well being of the animals at your Zoo. To get to know some of the men and women who take care of the more than 3,000 animals at the Zoo, join the ZooKeepers’ Circle and go behind-the-scenes with the animals and their keepers. For more information, visit ClevelandZooSociety.org.

The American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZ K) is a nonprofit volun-

teer organization made up of professional zoo keepers

and other inter-

ested persons dedicated to professional animal care and conservation.

AAZK’s purpose is to foster a profes

sional attitude in animal keepers and

aquarists by encouraging them to become active members of professi

onal

teams at today’s zoos and aquariums. AAZ K supports the

promotion

and implementation of zoo keeper education and strives to m

ake the

general public aware of our con

cern for all deserving conservation proj-

ects and the need for the preservation of

our natural resources and the

species that depend on those res

ources. —AAZ K.org

6 ZtoU Spring 2010

$250 AND UP

DINO-MITE NIgHT (family-friendly) May 25

Bring the kids along to see Cleveland’s most exciting summer exhibit, this year featuring African dinosaurs.

BOUNTIFUL BOTANICALS June 15 & 17

If you’re a fan of flora, you won’t want to miss this garden tour! Members of our award-winning horticulture staff will lead this tour of several of our amaz-ing gardens.

gO BATTY! November 1, 15 & 29

Think bats and snakes are creepy? You’ll fall in love — or at least gain a deep appreciation — for these fasci-nating creatures. You’ ll also f ind out what incredible maintenance it takes to keep The RainForest run-ning day to day.

$500 AND UP

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WOLF WILDERNESS April 26 & 28 AND May 10 & 12

We’ll go inside wolf holding and meet the keeper of our pack of Mex-ican gray wolves.

DINO-MITE NIgHT (family-friendly) May 26

Bring the kids along to see Cleveland’s most exciting summer exhibit, this year featuring African dinosaurs.

AN AUSTRALIAN ADvENTUREJuly 14

Australia is your playground for this fun and fascinating tour! Take several behind-the-scenes tours of one of the Zoo’s most popular attractions and enjoy delicious treats courtesy of Outback Steakhouse.

THE SCOOP ON ALL THE POOPJuly 27 & 29

Join Compost & Recycling Coordinator Nancy Hughes for an informative lecture on composting and recycling then take the tram over to visit the Zoo’s extensive composting site.

TIgERS & BEARS, OH MY! September 14, 16, 28 & 30

Visit the holding facilities for the tigers and bears, then go on an informative walking tour of Northern Trek.

$1,000 AND UP

gIRAFFES, BOTANICALS & BUTTERFLIES June 22, 24 & 30

Check out the giraffe barn and get up close and personal with our amazingly tall friends. Also, members of our award-winning horticulture staff will lead a tour of the Zoo’s African Savanna and a tour of the Public Greenhouse.

In the Circle2010 BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS

The ZooKeepers’ Circle Membership program provides significant support for our wildlife conservation mission. With spectacular, conservation-focused exhibits like Australian Adventure and the world- renowned RainForest, your Zoo strives to be one of our nation’s top conservation parks.

TARA TURNERDirector of External Relations

ZtoU Spring 2010 7

RHINOS & WINE OHS! August 17, 19 & 25

Get up close and personal with our rhino collection and talk with their keepers. We’ll also be joined by an area sommelier for a surpris-ingly informative and flavorful tasting of affordable wines.

ZOO HISTORY TOUR October 5 & 7

Learn about the fascinating natural his-tory of the Zoo from one of our knowl-edgeable volunteers and then take a guided tram tour with Zoo Director Steve Taylor.

ZOOKEEPERS’ CIRCLE RECEPTION November 10

VIP BONUS!There is added value in being a Zoo VIP! As a ZooKeepers’ Circle Member you’ ll also receive invitations to join us for…

THE DAvID STEFFEE ADDRESS IN vETERINARY MEDICINE ($500 members and above only) May 5

Discover the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine with presentations by expert Zoo staff as they explore issues related to conservation medicine (maximum capacity: 125.)

ZOOFRIENDS’ NIgHT July 7 (family-friendly)

In appreciation of our special ZooFriends you are invited to a fun-filled after-hours party at the Zoo. Talk with docents and keepers and enjoy a free night at the Zoo.

BIg CREEK CLEAN UP August 24 (Rain Date — August 31)

This event, in partnership with Friends of Big Creek, a community-based water-shed stewardship group, will remove truckloads of unsightly debris from the Zoo’s portion of Big Creek — a wet, dirty job but a mighty rewarding one!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYAL AND GEN-EROUS SUPPORT! Please note which exciting tours are available at your level of giving: ZooKeepers’ Circle members at the $250 level may enjoy two tours a year;

those at the $500 level may attend four tours; and $1,000 level members may enjoy up to six tours (from any level) per season. All tours are for members 16 years and older (except where stated). Tours start at 6:00 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes; light refreshments will be served. Tour registration is available online at Events.ClevelandZooSociety.org. Dates subject to change. For more in-formation about tours at the $2,500 level and higher please call (216) 635.3323.

Want to learn more about African Ele-phant Crossing? Call (216) 661.6500, ext. 4461 to learn how you can support the project and take a tour of the construc-tion site.

ZooFriends’ Night

JULY 9

What’s the Buzz?2010 DATES TO REMEMBER

EarthFest

APRIL 18

INSIDE INFORMATION

ZIPPTYZOODOO BLACK & WHITE BASH June 11 6:00 p.m. to Midnight

You’ll have zoo-pendous fun at Cleve-land’s longest running benefit. The eve-ning features a seated dinner, dancing and a “wild” silent auction. Individual reser-vations and tables of 10 are available. For more information contact Rachael Fuller at Fuller@ClevelandZooSociety.org or (216) 635.3324.

17TH ANNUAL TWILIgHT AT THE ZOOAugust 6

Advance Ticket sales begin May 1 with special discounts for members. Don’t miss the city’s largest fundraiser and the summer’s wildest party! Enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres and beverages while roaming the Zoo. Dance under the stars to the rhythms of 14 bands playing reggae to rock, disco to country. Visit Cleveland-ZooSociety.org for information and tick-ets to Cleveland’s best summer event.

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo

JUNE 12

Mother’s Day

MAY 9

Summer Season Open

MAY 31

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Design:Nesnadny+Schwartz,Cleveland+NewYork+Toronto|Contributing Photographers: Roger Mastroianni and Sandy Gross; all other photos courtesy of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

ZtoU is an exclusive publication of the Cleveland Zoological Society for those who advance our mission of promoting the conservation and propagation of wildlife—particularly endangered species—through support of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Thanks to you, we are able to advance our Zoo to the top tier of zoos nationally, and strengthen our commitment to research and environmental education. For more details about all our events, please visit ClevelandZooSociety.org

This publication was printed at an FSC-certified printer (Certification No. SW-COC- 002929). The FSC Logo identifies products that contain wood from well-managed forests certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. Soy-based inks; elemental chlorine free, acid-free, recycled and recyclable papers were employed throughout this publication.